Better Prepared

B2MeM Challenge: Overcoming Obstacles

'Yes,' said Gandalf. 'I never told him, but its worth was greater than the value of the whole Shire and everything in it.'

Frodo said nothing, but he put his hand under his tunic and touched the rings of his mail-shirt. He felt staggered to think that he had been walking about with the price of the Shire under his jacket. Had Bilbo known? He felt no doubt that Bilbo knew quite well. It was indeed a kingly gift."

Format: 200 word FLFGenre: angstRating: PGWarnings: noneCharacters: Frodo,BilboPairings: noneSummary: Frodo puts on Bilbo’s mithril shirt.Disclaimer: The characters are the property of the Tolkien Estate. No profit has been, nor will be made from this story.

Bilbo had insisted that he take the mail shirt and put it on. Frodo had protested. He was no warrior and the thought of mail against his still aching shoulder made him shudder,

Still, Bilbo would not be gainsaid and the mail shirt was a beautiful thing. It was as supple as cloth and shone like silver shines in moonlight. Most surprisingly, it was as light as his tunic almost and pained him not at all to wear.

Maybe if he had but had it earlier, he would not have received the Nazgûl wound. It was too late now for such regrets, though.

Wearing armour and carrying the sword Bilbo insisted he take felt strange to him, but these were strange and perilous events he was caught up in.

Sometimes he had wondered if Bilbo had exaggerated a little in the tales of his adventures, but now he knew that the perils in the outside world were all too real and far worse than any dark nightmare.

Frodo drew Sting and made a few tentative thrusts and parries with the sword. He might be a simple Hobbit, but with armour and a sword, he felt better equipped for overcoming obstacles.